TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 767/2003
S G Shi, S A Westgate
Background
Resistance spot welding is used extensively in the automotive industry to produce lap type joints in a range of components, which include body panels, frames, and chassis members. Recent legislative requirements on motor vehicle emission levels have resulted in an increased uptake of advanced steel technologies. This has led to a move towards the increased use of higher strength steels (UTS >600N/mm 2) within the vehicle manufacturing industries.
Objectives
- To conduct a literature review and industry survey on resistance spot welding of high strength steels.
- To establish the spot weld hardening behaviour and susceptibility to interface fracture in high strength steels in the strength range 600-1200N/mm 2.
- To determine the effect of parent material strength and weld hardening on static properties of spot welds in high strength steels.